insurance

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) currently provides insurance for six million children. It's a joint federal-state partnership - created in 1997 by President Bill Clinton - that covers children without health insurance.

Planning for adoption is, of course, a huge project. Paperwork, interviews, and legal counsel are part of the process. Anticipating the financial impact of adoption is critical.

First, you should create a reserve fund specifically earmarked for the adoption expenses. Put money in an interest-earning account that allows for easy withdrawals.

The Human Rights Campaign recommends women consider the following five factors when exploring the option of insemination:

1. Age. A woman's ability to become pregnant declines and risk of an early miscarriage or Down's syndrome increases.

Specifically:

• The risk of infertility rises dramatically as women reach their mid-30s.
• The risk of early miscarriage rises significantly with age, with the average 40-year-old facing a one in two chance; and